First, sorry if this topic has already been discussed. I have used the search facility and i do remember some discussion about routing the transducer cable for fish finder thru the hatch (not a good idea) so i have followed the instructions given to me with the Hobie Lowrence insatallation kit and drilled a 5/8" hole thru the deck...but i dont like the grommet setup. I understand there will be some leakage via the cabling thru the center eye of the grommet but am happy to put up with this if it means I can push the cables down into the hull when i am not using the FF. I dont want to plug the whole thing up with marine goop and have 6" of cable hanging out of the grommet whenever i sail without the FF. Slitting a grommet to insert the cables means it wont seat well.

friend of mine suggested buying a rubber bung like those used in test tubes or in a science lab the bung has a hole in the middle, just cut the bung top to bottom passing midway through the hole, place cabling between and glue together then ram the bung into hole. Mabye cut a groove around the bung half way up creating a sleeve that will 'lock' like the grommet into the hole.

I have already contacted Hobie Aus and no doubt they will come up with a solution, I dont think seeking a second opinion via the forum is going to upset anyone too much (its a very small issue)

So many of you are so good at creative solutions and I am sure you will have come up against this problem. How did you get round it?

....and if you dont glue the two halves of the test tube stopper together and want to retract the transducer cable back into the hull you just unplug the stopper from the deck open the 2 halves and pull the cable thru so just the plug is exposed then plug the stopper back into the deck tight enough so the hole in the middle of it compresses round the cabling forming an almost watertight seal.....same thing in reverse if you want to extend the cable....hmmm, sounds good..now whats the Thai for rubber bungs...????? I had better get this right....

Glenn, thanks for the link I have trolled right thru it but I cant find a solitary cable clam anywhere, not to say there isnt one there, of course.

I am just about to embark on a 3 day camping/fishing trip to a place called Hat Bang Ben (H.Q. of NOWHERE!) the offshore island Ko Kangkao has a reputation for giant trevally, King mackerel (I've never caught any there!!!!) and Thai-Burmese trawler stand offs. Just loaded the yak and would you know it, I managed to land the rubber test tube bung with transducer plug right on top of the roof rack...isnt that just TYPICAL??

...until I gave up, retired to the beach and sulked in my tent under a withering noonday sun!!!!! Its always the same, I go to remote exotic locations and catch NOTHING, then I return here to over exploited, overfished Phuket and catch some monster at the wrong time of the day on the wrong tide.....in a place where there arent supposed to be any decent fish whatsoever!!!!!